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Citizen Participation

2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Surveys

Citizen Participation Plan

The Spokane County Community Services, Housing, and Community Development Department has adopted a Citizen Participation Plan to provide for and encourage citizen participation in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME).

The primary goal of the Citizen Participation Plan is to provide all citizens of our community with adequate opportunities to participate in an advisory role in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the County’s CDBG and HOME programs. The Plan identifies policies and procedures which are designed to maximize the opportunity for citizen participation in the community development process and minimize the displacement of persons. Special emphasis has been placed on encouraging participation by persons of low and moderate incomes, special needs populations, and residents of areas where community development funds are utilized.

Citizens are encouraged to participate in all phases of the CDBG and HOME programs and will be provided full access to program information. However, final responsibility and authority for the development and implementation of the programs will lie with Spokane County.

The CDBG and HOME programs are intended to address housing, public facility, economic development, public service, and other eligible needs of Spokane County’s unincorporated area and participating city residents. The cities of Airway Heights , Cheney , Deer Park , Fairfield , Latah , Liberty Lake, Medical Lake , Millwood , Rockford , Spangle , Spokane Valley and Waverly have chosen to participate in the Spokane County Community Development Entitlement Program.

The CDBG and HOME programs are funded by a grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Spokane County. The legislation which authorizes these Federal programs identifies their primary objective as funding activities which will benefit low and moderate income persons.

For the purposes of the CDBG and HOME programs, a low and moderate income person is defined as an individual whose gross household income is less than 80% of the median annual income in Spokane County adjusted by household size. A low and moderate income neighborhood is an area in which 51% or more of the residents meet the definition of a low and moderate income person.

Each program year the Housing and Community Development Division prepares several planning, reporting and policy documents related to the County’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME Programs. Copies of these documents are available for review at the department. Upon request, copies of documents are provided to interested parties. The following documents are available for all program years at the department:

Annual Action Plans;

Citizen Participation Plans;

Community Development Needs Assessment Report;

Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER);

Consolidated Plan;

Environmental Review Record;

Funding Guidelines;

Funding Policies; and

Subrecipient Management Plan.

Interested organizations or individuals may contact the Housing and Community Development Division for more information. An individual or organization may also contact the department and request that their name be added to or deleted from the mailing list for distribution of a particular document. Public notices are published on the availability of annual reports including, the Funding Policies, Final Statement of Objectives and Use of Funds, the CAPER, the Consolidated Plan, and the Environmental Review Record.

Policies and Program Actions

Objections to program policies, audit or monitoring findings, or other action may be filed with the Housing and Community Development Division. The division responds to all written complaints regarding program policies and actions within 15 working days. Copies of the complaints and the department’s response are mailed to the Board of County Commissioners and the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee. The Board of County Commissioners may respond to complaints.

Funding Decisions

Preliminary funding recommendations, including recommendations not to fund an activity, made by the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee, may be commented on during the public hearing conducted annually to obtain comment. Applicants may request reconsideration of a application which has not been approved for funding, in writing, or orally during the public hearing.

Records

Complaints and other written comments regarding Community Services, Housing, and Community Development Department activities are public information. Complaints and other comments are kept on file in the department office and are part of the CDBG Program Annual Performance Report.